By Trevor Hunnicutt and Joseph Ax WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Top Trump administration officials on Wednesday thanked troops deployed in the nation's capital and blasted demonstrators opposed to the aggressive anti-crime efforts as "stupid white hippies.

Defense Secretary Hegseth has signed an order allowing Guard troops in D.C. to be armed. The authority is expected to be acted upon in coming days.

President Trump requested National Guard troops from states, locals stand up against federal takeover as it enters the second week.

When the chef Rock Harper read the news this month that President Trump was going to send the National Guard into the streets of Washington, D.C., to crack down on crime, he immediately worried about how this would impact business at Hill Prince, his casual bar and restaurant on the perpetually busy H Street corridor.